Council candidate faces charge

MERIDEN — A City Council candidate is due in court next month after police say he pushed another motorist during a reported road rage incident.

Ronald Perry, 66, was arrested Oct. 20 and charged with second-degree breach of peace, a misdemeanor.

Perry, a We The People candidate seeking an at-large council seat, did not return calls seeking comment Monday.

According to police spokesman Lt. Sal Nesci, Perry had been following a city resident on Route 5 when the other vehicle came to an abrupt halt. The stop caused Perry to swerve to avoid a collision. When the motorist accelerated, Nesci said Perry began tailgating the vehicle in front of him.

Heading north on Route 5, the vehicle turned onto Green Road, Nesci said, with Perry following. When the motorist turned into his driveway, Perry allegedly parked along Green Road in front of the driveway and got out of his vehicle. Perry then reportedly began yelling in the direction of the motorist, including profanities, Nesci said.

When the motorist went to get out of his vehicle, police say Perry pushed him back in, continuing to yell. The complainant’s wife then took down Perry’s license plate number and called police.

When police located Perry, he admitted to the allegations, Nesci said. He was arrested and released on a promise to appear.

Perry is scheduled to appear for arraignment Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. at Meriden Superior Court.

Perry was cross-endorsed by the Republican Party and is one of four candidates running for two at-large seats on Nov. 5.

We the People Town Chairwoman Lois DeMayo could not be reached for comment.

Republican Town Vice Chairwoman Liz Whitney said she hadn’t heard about the incident when asked about it Monday afternoon. Whitney declined comment because she and other party leaders did not know all the details, she said.

Democratic Town Chairwoman Mildred Torres-Ferguson said she had heard about the arrest and found it troubling.

“I would question his judgment,” she said. “You need to be able to control your temper, especially if you are going to serve on the council.”